Susan Hua1,2, B and Peter J. Cabot21The School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, 2308, Australia; 2The School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072, Queensland, Australia

SummaryA novel peripheral analgesic formulation was developed, mimicking the role of opioid-containing immune cells in peripheral tissue injury, using a targeted drug delivery approach. Anti-ICAM-1 monoclonal antibodies were attached to the surface of long-circulating liposomes in order to assess the specificity of delivery of encapsulated opioids to peripheral opioid receptors. Encapsulated within these nanocarriers was loperamide hydrochloride, which is a potent peripheral mu-opioid receptor agonist. Here we show that targeting this unique peripheral analgesic pathway provides both site-directed analgesic and anti-inflammatory actions.